Vancouver Island is one of those places that is not hard on the eyes. It has everything you can imagine from towering Redwoods, world class surfing, fishing, bird watching, beaches, mountains and mind-blowing hiking trails. It also seems to attract people who just can’t stop smiling. That’s likely due to the fact that they know they are in a place located pretty darn close to Paradise.
After a long day on the ferry boat and driving, our first stop back in Canada was at Pedder Bay RV Resort and Marina situated near Sooke on Vancouver Island, about 40 Kms west of Victoria. (Just follow the windy roads.) Easily one of the prettiest stops we’ve experienced so far. Our site was clean as a whistle and bordered by giant 14 foot cedar shrubs. Pretty, private and perfect.
The marina is nestled in a cozy cove with a wide assortment of boats and some curious regulars. We sat at a bench overlooking the cove and quickly spotted a couple of otters (doing what they ought-er), a pair of seals, and two bald eagles who flew right over us as we sat there. We took that as a very good omen. And then we saw the sign, “Boats for rent.”
So, of course, Bernadette and I trundled down to the office to inquire about a rental. The lady wasn’t too impressed when I explained that I once was a boat captain, along with my buddy Mike, of Amsterdam-like tour boats in Toronto Harbour many, many years (even decades) ago.
She replied, “No problem. You don’t need anything. Just sign on the dotted line and you have a boat license for the day.” Pretty easy being a boat captain in these parts.
The next morning we were off in our trusty boat traversing the coast of the island through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. On the other side was a perfect view of the towering mountains that make up a big part of Washington State. We passed light houses, more seals, freighters, whale watching tourists, and of course logs. Like, lots of logs. The “Captain” had to keep his eyes peeled for logs and the quick evasive turns would often flip poor Gordie from port to starboard and back again.
Despite old Gordie’s apparent bout of sea sickness, we had a blast. After completing our adventure, we tied up at the marina dock and immediately went off to explore more of the stunning Sooke coast. There are so many places to stop and take in the views. And as we were glancing off in the distance marvelling at some of them, I looked up to see a giant, adult black bear standing motionless in the middle of the road. He looked like he was trying to hitch a ride somewhere. I hit the brakes hard and screeched to a stop. The bear didn’t seem to mind at all and was in no hurry to move out of the way. He just stared at us in an awkward standoff, but after a few moments, the bear seemed to shrug his shoulders realizing that we weren’t about to pick up any bear hitch-hikers, and then disappeared into the forest.
An exciting day for sure, but I was determined to end it in perfection. That evening after dinner, I looked up at my gal and said, “I think it’s time to pull out the star gazer!” Back before our voyage began, I had purchased a telescope intending to find those magical times when Bernadette and I could explore the universe together, holding hands, sipping a Chablis, searching for stars and planets.
I took the telescope out of its travelling hockey bag and within a short time, had it assembled and standing ready to capture the mysteries above. I even downloaded a special app on my phone to help make locating these marvellous mysteries a breeze. I slipped my phone into its spot on the telescope and stood back and waited for darkness. And waited.
Since we never really stay up later than people who watch The National, I hadn’t realized how long it takes to get dark in these parts. While Bernadette was happy to humour me for the first few hours, she eventually left for some shut eye. “Call me when you find those stars.” She cooed as she retreated to Ladybug. And Gordie followed her.
I waited some more. And kept waiting. But, in the end, the dark sky never really appeared and by 11:00 p.m., I decided to throw in the towel. I could look up and see plenty of stars, but the telescope app kept telling me that I had to wait for darkness before tracking the stars. It was just too light. I reluctantly disassembled the telescope and returned it to its travelling hockey bag. “Damn telescope,” I thought. “This star gazing is way too late for me.”
The next day we were off to Parksville to stay at another cool RV spot on the beach. We were fortunate to arrive on a day when a beer festival was taking place next door. And while that is usually a nice option for a festival guy like me, we passed on the opportunity and spent a lot of the evening just watching the cruise ship races in the distance for those embarking for Alaska.
The real highlight of our trip to Vancouver Island was meeting up with old colleagues and their better halves at the Black Goose Inn. It was so nice to see these dear friends and from their constant smiles, they are as happy as clams to be enjoying life in such a special place. We were very happy for them.
Beautiful British Columbia is a pretty nice motto that you will see on licence plates across the province. And British Columbians are rightfully proud of their home. But, from what I have seen, I think they need a different motto. One that truly captures what is like to be in British Columbia.
So, I am recommending they modify their motto slightly to something along the lines of “Stunningly, Gobsmackingly, Beautiful British Columbia.” Because that is what it truly is. They just need a slightly larger licence plate.